The easiest way to find out if your NYC home may have a lead water service line is to look up your address on the city’s service line map and check the age of the building. Lead was allowed for service lines in New York City until 1961, so older homes are more likely to have one.
A lead service line is the pipe that brings water from the city main into a building, made partly or fully of lead. Lead can get into drinking water from these lines, so it is worth knowing what kind of pipe serves your home.
Check the City’s Service Line Information
The NYC DEP lead service line page links to a service line map where you can search your property. The map shows what the city knows about the material of the line. Records are not always complete, so a result may say the material is unknown.
DEP explains that property owners are responsible for their service line. It also runs a free replacement program in certain areas, including parts of the Bronx. Only owners who receive a letter from DEP are eligible, so check the page for current details.
Look at the Pipe Where It Enters
If you can safely reach the spot where the water line comes into the building, usually near the water meter, you can take a look. Lead pipe is often dull gray and may look rounded or bulged at the joints. Copper is reddish brown, and galvanized steel is gray with threaded joints.
Do not cut, bend or strike the pipe, and do not disturb the meter. What you see at the entry point also may not match the whole line under the yard or street. A plumber can help confirm the material.
Steps That Can Lower Exposure
If you think your home may have a lead service line, DEP suggests running the cold water for a short time before drinking when it has been sitting in the pipes. Use cold water for cooking and drinking. A water filter certified to reduce lead may also help. Young children and people who are pregnant are more sensitive to lead, so take extra care.
You can also request a free lead test kit through NYC 311. Testing shows what is in your water at that moment, but it does not identify the pipe material.
Renters and Multifamily Buildings
If you rent, ask your landlord or building manager whether the building has a lead service line and what plans exist to address it. Owners of Bronx multifamily buildings can check the map and speak with a plumber about the line serving the building.
Have questions about the water line serving your Bronx home? Our team can look at the private side of the line and talk through options for water line repair in the Bronx. Call (929) 209-6183.
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